A Study on the Xenia Effect in Castanea henryi

The xenia effect results in pollen affecting the setting rate and the appearance and quality of fruits. To further understand this phenomenon, we investigated the xenia effect in Castanea henryi using the cultivars 'Huali 1', 'Huali 2', 'Huali 3', and 'Huangzhen' as materials. Twenty combinations of self-, cross-, and natural pollination were undertaken in a chestnut orchard in Chenzhou City, Hunan Province, China. Significant differences were observed among the pollination combinations in terms of the time of fruit ripening, rate of fruit setting, size of the barbed shell and nut, and content of soluble sugars, fats, proteins, amylose, and vitamin C. No significant differences were observed with regard to nut rate, content of total starch, and moisture content. The fruit quality of the 20 pollination combinations was evaluated using a subordinate function method, and showed that Huali 2 × Huali 3 was the best combination, and Huangzhen × Huangzhen was the most ineffective combination. Therefore, we recommend the combination of Huali 2 × Huali 3 for the future production of C. henryi.